Knights enter new era

PALMER — After 14 years as an assistant, Fred McKenney is at the helm of the Colony Knights football program. With the bulk of the coaching staff back, McKenney said Colony will build on what was established during the Rhett Magner era.

“A lot of similarities,” McKenney said recently.

McKenney is no stranger to the challenge of serving as a head coach. He helped build the Colony wrestling program into a state powerhouse, and also spent time as the Colony hockey head coach. McKenney said the systems on both sides of the ball will be similar to years past.

“Slight modifications,” McKenney said.

A priority, McKenny said, is preparing for a tough conference schedule. Colony is a member of Alaska’s newest league, the Chugach Conference, which also includes defending state champion Bartlett, Chugiak, Juneau and Valley rival Wasilla.

“They didn’t do us any favors,” McKenney said. “It’s a pretty rough conference.”

McKenney said the Knights also need to be ready for a tough overall schedule, which includes five games against teams from the Anchorage municipality.

“It’s probably the toughest schedule we’ve ever had,” McKenney said.

Colony is off to a 2-0 start, after come-from-behind wins over South Anchorage and Palmer. The Knights host Dimond and West Anchorage in nonconference action. There are conference home games against Wasilla and Chugiak, and a Chugach road game at Juneau.

“We don’t have any easy games at all this year,” McKenney said.

McKenney said the Colony coaching staff is relying on a group of Colony seniors to lead the Knights through the brutal schedule. The list includes Eric Christy, Julian McPhail, Zane Virvilo and Brad Amato.

Christy is in his first season as Colony’s starting quarterback. He scored the game-winning touchdown against South, and threw for a score and ran for another in the win over Palmer.

“He is a great athlete,” McKenney said.

McPhail was a first-team all-state defensive back as a senior, and is also a standout at wide receiver. Amato is a starter at both center and defensive tackle. Virvilo starts on both sides of the ball after missing his junior season with an injury.

The Knights also have senior Kaiden Jimenez, who led Colony in rushing as a junior.

“He is a workhorse, always a nice security blanket,” McKenney said.

Overall, McKenney said he likes what he has to work with.

“We’ll be competitive,” McKenney said.

** Editor’s note. This is part of a five-piece series previewing the 2018 seasons of the Valley’s prep football programs. See frontiersman.com/sports for more about the Palmer Moose, Wasilla Warriors, Redington Huskies and Houston Hawks.